Dashing for Love (Lucky In Love #2)

1. Goldie

Chapter 1

Goldie

“ T HE NAME IS Chad.”

“You’re...Chad?”

“Yeah, Chad. Nice to meet you.” He slides onto the bar stool with an audible oof , taking longer to get situated than most before finally attempting a smile.

This isn’t getting off to a great start. I mean, the dude’s name is Chad. No offense to the Chads of the world, but I have yet to meet a good one.

Judging by the sweat on his upper lip, he’s about to fall into the same no-good-Chad category.

But I’m a nice person. So nice, in fact, that I’m going to overlook the unfortunate sweat situation and focus instead on the fact that Chad’s treating me to dinner at this really nice restaurant. And by nice I mean kind of mediocre with servers I could run laps around, but I’m trying really hard not to judge. I stick my hand out for a shake. “Nice to meet you.”

His hand meets mine, and it’s like shaking hands with a fish. Limp and damp.

I hold off the physical shiver of ick like the champion I am and beam at him. “How do you know Agatha?”

“Oh. Um, she’s my mom’s friend? From some kind of card night that all the old ladies play?”

I peer at him. “Are you asking me, or are you telling me?” I hate it when people make statements as though they’re questions.

He squirms. “Telling?”

I look around for the server. I’m going to need a glass of wine to get through this. Or three.

One glass in and our buddy Chad hasn’t gotten any better. He’s not talkative, he answers all my questions with the least amount of words as possible, and I’m at my wit’s end.

I’ve got to tell Agatha that she’s not allowed to set me up on dates anymore. Now that it’s me living in the tiny guest cottage behind her house instead of my sister Willa, she’s decided that she needs to fix me up with the future love of my life the same way she set Willa up with Reid.

And honestly, I love her for thinking she set them up, but those two were on a collision course from the second they laid eyes on each other. Did Agatha lay the groundwork for more? Possibly. But to hear her tell it, she was who started the entire operation between those two.

With that victory under her belt, she immediately turned her sights to me. And I’ve endured my fair share of mediocre dates, but this one is by far the worst.

I focus back in on what Chad’s saying.

“...so my bird, she’s an African Grey and I’ve had her for twenty years?—”

I hold up a hand. “Wait. You’ve had a bird for twenty years?” Maybe he is interesting.

He nods vigorously, his pale face lighting up a notch. “Yes! Her name is Affie because I had a lisp when I was little. I got her when I was twelve and she’s been my best friend ever since.”

Okay, I’m not gonna lie. That’s kind of adorable. Is it making up for the rest of Chad’s shortcomings? Not exactly. But it’s hard to dismiss a guy who’s managed a twenty-year relationship with a living creature.

“She sleeps in my room, and we talk every morning and night. She usually goes everywhere with me—she was pretty mad that I didn’t bring her with me to our date. Said a lot of mean things about it, in fact.” He chortles obliviously. “She doesn’t even know you, but she does not like you.”

I stop drinking wine. No amount is going to make this better, and why waste a perfectly good Uber charge when I can just stay sober and drive home?

Because dude just told me his parrot and him do everything together.

He keeps going. “And she loves the shower.”

I blink. “Excuse me?”

He nods again, so hard his jowls shake. “Oh, she’s a big fan of the shower. Just hops right in with me and when she’s done, she hops out and waits on the towel rack.”

I smile weakly. “Wow.”

“Right? She’s amazing. Just the other day, we were on one of our three daily walks around the property—that’s what I call my backyard, ha, the ‘property,’ and…”

I zone out. After what feels like the entirety of the Paleozoic era, I pull out my phone and pretend I’ve gotten a call. “I’m so sorry,” I frown and slip off the stool, grabbing my clutch and tucking it under my arm as I go. “I need to take this.”

If he notices that I book it out of the restaurant like I’ve got a horde of wasps after me, he doesn’t act on it.

Thirty minutes later, I’m back in my small town of Lucky and turning the Jeep’s ignition off. I freaking love this thing. It’s white with soft sides so that I can take advantage of the weather almost year-round, and of course it’s got a line of rubber duckies going across the dashboard. I don’t know who started that trend and I don’t care; it’s cute as all get out.

I let my hair down, sliding off the spare scrunchie I always keep in the Jeep and letting it fall to the console. Then I school my nerves and march up to Agatha’s front door. The woman may be my landlord, but her fledgling career as a matchmaker needs to come to a stop. Immediately, if not sooner.

“Aren’t you supposed to be on a date with Chad?” Agatha peers through the screen door.

“Hello to you, too, Agatha,” I smile. “Are you going to invite me in, or shall we have our heart-to-heart on the porch?”

Her face falls. “Was it that bad?”

I sigh. “His name was Chad . What do you think?”

She steps onto the porch and toddles to the rocking chair. “Did he tell you about his African Grey?”

I take the other rocking chair and force myself not to screech at her like I’m a parrot. “You mean to tell me that you knew his name was Chad and you knew he had a parrot? Did you also know that they take showers together? And that she sleeps in the bedroom with him?” I lean closer and hiss. “It’s no wonder he needs his mom to set him up on dates.”

Agatha waves a dismissive hand. “I’m setting you up, too, missy.”

I let out an aggrieved yelp. “Not because I asked you to!”

She sniffs. “You’re not acting very grateful, Goldie. Your sister?—”

“Has nothing to do with this,” I interrupt, then take a deep breath. “Listen. I really appreciate your efforts on my behalf. Truly.”

She purses her lips and assesses me. “Well. Okay.”

“But I’d like you to stop. There’s been Eric, the other Eric, and Steve, and Joe, and now Chad, and I”—I clasp my hands before me— “really need you to stop.”

Letting out a deep sigh of her own, Agatha nods. “I suspected as much. I need to turn my talents elsewhere. They’re clearly wasted on you.”

It’s a testament to my self-control that I don’t jump up and let out an excited whoop . Truly. Instead, I bestow a gracious smile on the woman and slap my hands on my legs before standing. “Thank you, Agatha. I’m sure there’s a young woman or two at church who’d just love your help.”

Agatha’s eyes go bright with anticipation. “Oh! You’re right.” She stands. “I need to call the girls. You have a good night.”

She disappears through the door, dismissing me without another thought.

Well, that went easier than I thought it would.

I make my way around the house to the cottage I rent from Agatha, letting myself in and taking a shower, then pouring a much-needed glass of wine and cuddling up on the couch with a blanket and remote. Now that I’m home, I can relax.

Halfway through an episode of Friends, I get a text.

Willa

Hey! You busy next Thursday? Matty’s 30th birthday bash at Los Amigos. You need to be there.

Count me in!

Cool. Love you little sis

Love you too big sis

I toss my phone down and hit play on the episode again. I’d always had a crush on Joey—who didn’t?—but my real crush growing up? Matty Brodigan. Always. I don’t recall ever not liking him.

Now there was a man worth dating. He was always cute, and nowadays? Hubba hubba. Not to mention having a great personality, good job, and no African Grey in sight. Too bad Agatha doesn’t want to set me up with him. But he’s my sister’s best friend, so that’ll never happen.